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Monday, July 16, 2012

SACRAMENTO, CA—Cynthia Lynn Van Holland,
48, a transient from the states of Idaho and Washington, was arraigned today
before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman for 21 counts of bank robbery,
United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. Van Holland pleaded not
guilty at today’s arraignment; her next court date is scheduled for July 25,
2012 before U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. She remains in custody.

“This investigation and prosecution
underscores the FBI’s commitment to working interstate violent crimes in a
highly professional and coordinated effort. The many state and federal law
enforcement agencies that collaborated in this investigation are to be
commended,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Herbert M. Brown.

“I want to commend the rapid response
and diligence of the Placer County Sheriff’s Department, following the Auburn
robbery, for their work in quickly locating and arresting this pair of bank
robbers and putting an end to their crime spree,” said Placer County District
Attorney Ronald Scott Owens.

According to court documents, Van
Holland committed robberies in four different states and five different federal
districts. During the early stages of the investigation, the Seattle Office of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation dubbed the perpetrator the “Bad Hair
Bandit” because she used a series of unusual wigs and disguises in executing
her bank robberies. The 21 counts are as follows:

Eastern
District of California

June 28, 2011: East West Bank at 4790
Freeport Blvd in Sacramento, $671

June, 28, 2011: U.S. Bank at 304 F
Street in Davis, $1,967

August 15, 2011: Bank of the West at
13422 Lincoln Way in Auburn, $8,722

Eastern
District of Washington

April 26, 2011: Wheatland Bank at 205
South Main St in Ellensburg, $714

August 11, 2011: Bank of Butte at 3525
Harrison Avenue in Butte, $1,600

This case is the product of an
investigation by the Sacramento Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes the
Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. In
addition, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office assisted in apprehending Van
Holland. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez is prosecuting the
case.

If convicted, Van Holland is facing up
to 20 years in federal prison for each count of bank robbery. Any actual
sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after
consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a
number of variables and any applicable statutory sentencing factors.

The charges are only accusations, and
the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt.